SHIBT: Traditions and Transitions
Exploring the History of SHIBT And How Its Grown With the Community
The cheerleaders lead the crowd in Fight Song before the varsity boys basketball game starts. The boys played on Dec. 13 and lost to Lansing High School (Photo by MSutton)
The Spring Hill Invitational Basketball Tournament, or SHIBT, is a tradition that has been at the high school since the 1970s. Eight teams from various schools around the state come and compete against teams that they may not have been able to play originally. While the tournament itself is only three days long, work starts long before the schools walk onto the court.
“Over the summer, we make contact with teams that are interested in going to a tournament, and send them a contract,” said Gary Howard, Activities Director.
Once teams sign the contract, it’s off to the races as the high school rushes to get ready. The excitement of SHIBT is felt by everyone, both in and out of the school.
“[SHIBT] has a lot of support, a lot of people from the community come out to support all the teams,” said Howard.
Clay Frigon, girls’ basketball coach, agreed.
“It gets more exciting, being able to see some different competition,” Frigon said.
Having been at the high school for 20 years, Frigon has seen a lot of teams come and go.
“[SHIBT] has changed quite a bit…the teams have changed, and the facilities have changed as well,” Frigon said, referring to the high school’s old location that possessed a gymnasium much smaller than the one currently in use.
One thing that has never changed are SHIBT hostesses.
“I think the teams and the coaches enjoy having somebody to host them…the girls sit and talk with the boys while they’re having their meal after the game, stuff like that,” said Mary Larson,
MaHaley Abel, who has been a hostess for her entire high school career, thoroughly enjoys the job.
“I love the friends that I’ve made over the years. The people I work with are amazing, and it’s overall a really good experience,” said Abel.
The hostesses are not the only people that benefit from the tournament: the entire school can reap its rewards.
“It helps build school spirit when our team’s on the winning side of the bracket, and doing well,” said Larson.
Win, lose, or draw, SHIBT is one the high school’s tradition that will be around for a long time to come.
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